Dispenser nozzle assembly



Nov. 22, 1966 J. K. HULING 3,286,885

DISPENSER NOZZLE ASSEMBLY Filed April 19, 1965 INVENTOR JAMES K. Hu 1N0 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,286.885 DISPENSER NOZZLE ASSEMBLY James K. Huling, Belleville, Ill., assignor to The Clayton Corporation of Delaware, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 19, 1965. Ser. No. 449,109 7 Claims. (Cl. 222--182) The present invention relates generally to a dispensing cap for valved aerosol dispensers, and more particularly to a two-member dispenser cap assembly for such dispensers, wherein the two members are held in temporary assembly prior to being attached to a filled, gassed dispenser.

Among the advantages offered by two-member dispensing caps is that of being able to aflix the stationary cap part to the dispenser can and align the valve actuator part with the valve stem regardless of deviations from precise centering. Furthermore, freedom of movement of the actuator part, consistent with a tilt action-type valve, is obtained by radial sliding of the valve actuator part relative to the stationary cap part. However, in handling the two-member dispensing caps prior to their attachment to the dispensers, the problem presented is that of maintaining them in preliminary assembly.

Among the objects of the present invention are the provisions of a two-member dispensing cap assembly consisting of a wall member and an actuator spout member wherein:

The two members may be fitted together and held in preliminary assembly prior to their attachment to filled, gas dispensers;

Preliminary assembly of the two members is facilitated by novel structural relationships between them; and

Over-actuator or excessive downward movement of the dispenser valves is prevented.

These purposes (as well as others apparent herein) are achieved generally by providing a cap assembly having a stationary circular wall member and a discharge spout member. The circular wall member, in, addition to having means for aflixation to a valve dispenser, includes a forward aperture and a projecting stop portion opposite the aperture, which extends radially inward. The discharge spout member has a doWnwardly-depressible fingeractuator portion which, in assembly, is disposed within the circular wall member. It further includes a nozzle outlet which projects through the wall member aperture and aft thereof communicates with a downwardly-disposed inlet provided beneath the finger-actuator. In addition, the actuator spout member has upper and lower aftprojecting portions which extend above and below the inwardly-projecting stop portion of the stationary wall member.

In assembling the actuator spout member within the circular wall member, the portion of the actuator spout member inward of the wall member is resiliently bent to guide its two aft-projecting portions into fitted assembly, where they are thereafter held by the interfitting arrangement of the projecting stop portion therebetween.

Utilization of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosures made in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the two-member dispensing cap assembly of the present invention, the actuator spout member being shown prior to preliminary assembly with the stationary wall member;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 1, the actuator spout member being shown resiliently bent and at an intermediate position between its disassembled and assembled positions;

3,286,885 Patented Nov. 22, 1966 "ice FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cap assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 in its assembled position and fitted onto a valved aerosol dispenser;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the assembled dispensing cap assembly alone; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing a modified embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 3 a metal dispenser container a having a crimpled-in top closure 0, which terminates outwardly in an annular, downward-presented edge b. The closure c is centrally raised as indicated at d to mount a hollowsternmed valve e, whose stem projects upwardly through an aperture in the mounting closure 1:. The hollowstemmed valve e opens when its stem is pressed downward but preferably also tilts slightly as it opens, thus avoiding sudden spurting. conventionally, a dip tube g extendsdownwardly from a nipple tip h of such valve to a point near the bottom of the container and below the surface of the dispenser contents (not shown). The parts described hereinabove are well-known.

The novel dispensing cap consists of a stationary wall member generally designated 10 and an actuator spout member generally designated 12 (FIGS. 14) and 12' (FIG. 5). The actuator spout member 12 of FIGS. 1-4 is so proportioned and designed that it may be inserted within the wall member 10 from above, as hereinafter described, while the actuator spout member 12' of FIG. 5 is designed for insertion upwardly through its open base Referring now in detail to the stationary wall member 10, it is preferably a molded, plastic shell. It is generally circular and flares slightly outward from its open top 14 to its base rim 16. Spaced at equal intervals along the interior surface of the wall member 10 and near its base rim 16 are four detents 18 which serve to fix the wall member 10 to the edge b of thedispenser containers top closure c. A forward side wall aperture 20 is provided in the stationary wall member 10, and diametrically opposite to the aperture 20 there is provide an arcuate projecting stop 22 which extends radially inwardly of the wall member 10. The surface at the inward end 24 of the projecting stop portion 22 is beveled to provide a cam face 26 which is presented upward toward the open top 14 of the wall member 10, see FIGS. 1-4.

In the case of the cap assembly of FIGS. 14, the actuator spout member 12 includes a circular downwardlydepressible finger-actuator pad portion 28 which is presented upwardly to and accesible through the open top 14 of the stationary wall member 10. .The member 12 is preferably molded of a plastic, such as polyethylene, which is characterized by substantial bending resiliency, as will be more fully understood hereinafter. Integral with and extending downwardly from the finger-actuator pad portion 28 is a hub portion 30 having a beveled internal shoulder 32 at its lower end. The beveled shoulder 32 leads to a product-bow inlet 34 which communicates through a radial flow passage 36 to a nozzle outlet 38. Between the inlet 34 and the forward apeture20, the flow passage 36 passes through a relatively narrow tubular throat portion 40 of the spout member 12. Starting at the inner side of the aperture 20, extending therethrough, and forward of the throat portion 40, the spout member 12 is enlarged substantially to the cross-section of the nozzle outlet 38.

7 Along the upper surface of the spout just within the wall member 10, there is provided an upwardly-projecting detent 42, which serves as a stop, to limit the projecgm of the nozzle outlet 38 through the forward aperture The circular finger-actuator pad portion 28 nearly fills the open top 14 of the wall member 10, which is cut down at the rear to a lower level access rim portion 43. The aft edge of the circular finger pad portion 28 is referred to (for its functional importance) as an arcuate upper aft-projecting portion 44, because on assembly it is positioned above and in angular registration with the arcuate forwardly-extending stop 22 of the Wall member 10.

Forwardly of such aft-projecting portion 44 but spacedly aft of the hub portion 30, an integral pawl-like part 46 extends vertically downward and then aft to terminate in a lower aft-projecting portion 48, below the arcuate inwardly-projecting stop 22 of the cap 10. This lower aft-projecting portion 48 has a downwardly-presented cam face 50 which complements the upwardlypresented cam face 26 of the stop 22.

To fit the actuator spout member 12 in preliminary assembly with the stationary wall member 10, the nozzle outlet 38 is inserted angularly from above the open top 14 and is projected through the forward aperture 20 of the wall member to the point where it is limited by the arcuate detent 42. The portion of the spout member 12 aft of the detent 42 is then bent resiliently downward to the position shown in FIG. 2. In such position the downwardly-presented cam face 50 of the lower aft-projecting portion 48 of the pawl 46 engages the upwardly-presented cam face 26 of the projecting stop 22; further pressure applied in the direction of the arrow of FIG. 2 causes the lower aft-projecting portion 48 of the spout member 12 to be guided downward along the cam face 26 until its upper surface slips beneath the lower surface of the projecting stop 22. Thus the complementary cam faces facilitate the assembly of the members 10 and 12. The resiliency of the plastic spout member 12 .causese it to return to its unbent position as shown in FIG 3, where the projecting stop portion 22 of the wall member 10 is positioned between the aft-projecting portions 44 and 48 i of the spout member 12.

In this preliminary assembled position, that portion of the spout member 12 received within the forward aperture 20 is substantially greater in cross-section than the throat portion 40 immediately aft thereof. This larger tubular section at the forward aperture 20 resists bending .moments at that point so that the spout member has little tendency to deflect at the aperture 20, and is securely retained at its forward end in the aperture 20.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the modified embodiment of the invention includes a generally similar wall member 10' and actuator-spout member 12', whose corresponding portions are similarly numbered with the designation prime and which need not be re-described in detail. The actuator spout member 12' is provided with an upwardly-presented cam face 50 on its upper aft-projecting portion 44', and the arcuate stop 22' has a downwardly-presented came face 26.

To insert the actuator spout member 12 into the wall member 10' frombelow, the assembly process described above is reversed. After the nozzle outlet 38' has been inserted angularly upward into and projected through the forward aperture 20' until restrained by the arcuate detent 42', the spout member 12' is bent upwardly, the upwardly-presented. cam face 50' engages the downwardly-presented :cam face 26' of the projecting stop 22'. Further pressure at the aft end of the spout member 12'. causes the aft-projecting portion 44" to be guided along the came face 26' until it is resiliently returned to its initial extended position. Thus the two members, so retained together, may be shipped in bulk to the filler of the dispensers, who readily aflixes them together after his dispenser filling and gassing operations.

During shipment the relative movement between the circular wall member 10 and the spout member 12 from their solid line positions of FIG. 3 is never greater than 4 that indicated by their dashed line positions. This dashed line position of FIG. 3 also indicates the actuation-limit position of the spout member 12. The depth within the circular wall member 10, at which the projecting stop 22. I

is provided, is chosen such that excessive downward movement of the valve stem f is prevented. That is, after the cap member 10 has been snapped onto the mounting edge b of the dispensing container a and the hub 30 of the assembled spout member 12 afiixed to the upper'end of the valve stem 7, the inwardly-projecting stop 22 limits the downward movement of the spout member 12. In this manner, it is assured that the valve stem f will not be forced downward to an undue extent, such as might result in escape of gas or other unintended consequence.

It should be noted that the two-part construction of the spout member 12 and the wall member 10 provides that freedom of movement which permits sufl'icientaft sliding to accommodate tilting of the valve, as indicated by the dashed lines of FIG. 3..

Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in view of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A two-member dispensing cap assembly for valved aerosol dispensers, comprising a stationary circular wall member including means of affixation to such a dispenser, said wall rnerniber having a forward aperture and having opposite thereto a projecting stop portion extending inwardly of said wall member, and

a discharge spout member including a downwardlydepressi'ble finger-actuator portion within said circular wall member, further including a nozzle outlet projecting through said aperture of said stationary wall member, said spout member having a downwardly-disposed inlet beneath said finger-actuator portion a stationary circular wall unem ber mcluding means of afiixation to such a dispenser, said wall member having a forward aperture and having opposite thereto a projecting stop portion extending inwardly of said wall mem ber, said-projecting stop portion including 1 a cam face at its inward end, and

a discharge spout member including a downwardly-depressi'ble finger-actuator portion within said circular wall rnernber, further including a nozzle outlet projecting through said aperture of said stationary.

wall member, said spout member having a downwardly-disposed inlet beneath said finger-actuator portion and communicating with said nozzle outlet,

said actuator spout member further having upper and lower aft-projecting portions extending above and below said inwardly-projecting stop portion of said sta-' tionary wall member, one of said aft-projecting portions having a cam face on its surface remote from the said projecting stop portion of said stationary wall member, said ca'm face being complementary to the cam face on said pnojecting stop portion,

whereby preliminary assembly of said actuator spout member within said stationary wall member is facilitated.

3. The two-member dispensing cap assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein the aft-projecting portion of said actuator spout member which has said cam face is its lower aftprojecting portion, and said cam face of said projecting stop portion of said stationary wall member is presented substantially upward. 4. The two-member dispensing cap assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein the aft-projecting portion of said actuator spout member which has said cam face is its upper af-t-projecting portion, and said cam face of said projecting stop portion of said stationary wall member is presented substantially downward. 5. A two member dispensing cap assembly for valved aerosol dispensers, comprising a stationary circular wall member including means of affixation to such a dispenser, said wall member having a forward aperture and haivng opposite thereto a projecting stop portion extending inwardly of said wall member, and a discharge spout member including a downwardly-depressible finger-actuator portion within said circular wall member, further including a nozzle outlet projecting through said aperture and including forward detent means to limit the projection therethrougb, said actuator spout member being formed of a plastic material characterized by bending resiliency and having a downwardly disposed inlet, a nozzle outlet forward of said detent means, and a product-flow passage communicating from said inlet to said outlet, said actuator spout member further having upper and lower aft-projecting portions extending above and below said inwardly-projecting stop portion of said stationary wall member, whereby, upon insertion of said actuator spout member said stationary wall member, said actuator spout member may be resiliently bent aft of said forward detent means, and said aft-projecting portions of said actuator spout member may be thereby positioned above and below said stop portion of said stationary wall member. 6. The two-member dispensing cap assembly as defined in claim 5,

said product-flow passage including a tubular throat portion inward of said detent means whose cross-sectional area is substantially smaller than that portion of said product-flow passage outward of said detent means,

the spout portion which encloses said flow passage being substantially greater in cross-section at said Wall apertune than its cross-section inwardly thereof,

whereby bending resiliency of said actuator member inward of said detent means is substantially main tained, while at the wall aperture the spout member is securely retained therein.

7. A two member dispensing cap assembly for valved aerosol dispensers, comprising a circular open top stationary wall member including means of afiixation to such a dispenser, said wall member having a forward aperture and a projecting stop portion extending inwardly of said wall member opposite said aperture, said projecting stop portion including a cam face at its inward end and presented substantially upward,

a discharge spout member including a downwardly-depressi le finger-actuator pad portion within said circu'lar wall member, and further including a nozzle outlet projecting through said aperture of said stationary wall member, said spout member further including a downwardly-presented bub integral to said finger pad portion and having product-flow inlet connectable to such valved dispenser, said inlet communicating through a product-flow passage with said nozzle outlet, said product-flow passage increasing from a smaller cross-sectional dimension inward of said wall member aperture to a substantially larger cross-sectional dimension at said wall member aperture,

said finger pad portion extending aft of said downwardly-presented ihu'b terminating in an upper aft-projecting portion above and in vertical registration with said stop portion of said wall member,

an integral downwardly-presented pawl terminating in a lower aft-projecting portion at a level below and in vertical registration with said projecting stop portion of said Wall member, said lower aft-projecting portion having a substantially downwardly presented cam face complementary to said cam face of said projecting stop portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,555 10/1958 Abplanalp 222513 3,169,672 2/1965 Sofler et a1 2225 13 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

F. R. HANDREN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TWO-MEMBER DISPENSING CAP ASSEMBLY FOR VALVED AEROSOL DISPENERS, COMPRISING A STATIONARY CIRCULAR WALL MEMBER INCLUDING MEANS OF AFFIXATION TO SUCH A DISPENSER, SAID WALL MEMBER HAVING A FORWARD APERTURE AND HAVING OPPOSITE THERETO A PROJECTING STOP PORTION EXTENDING INWARDLY OF SAID WALL MEMBER, AND A DISCHARGE SPOUT MEMBER INCLUDING A DOWNWARDLYDEPRESSIBLE FINGER-ACTUATOR PORTION WITHIN SAID CIRCULAR WALL MEMBER, FURTHER INCLUDING A NOZZLE OUTLET PROJECTING THROUGH SAID APERTURE OF SAID STATIONARY WALL MEMBER, SAID SPOUT MEMBER HAVING A DOWNWARDLY-DISPOSED INLET BENEATH SAID FINEER-ACTUATOR PORTION AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID NOZZLE OUTLET, SAID ACTUATOR SPOUT MEMBER FURTHER HAVING UPPER AND LOWER AFT-PROJECTING PORTIONS EXTENDING ABOVE AND BELOW SAID INWARDLY-PROJECTING STOP PORTION OF SAID STATIONARY WALL MEMBER, WHEREBY SAID PROJECTING STOP PORTION POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID AFT-PROJECTING PORTIONS OF SAID SPOUT MEMBER HOLDS SAID ACTUATOR SPOUT MEMBER IN PRELIMINARY ASSEMBLY WITH SAID STATIONARY WALL MEMBER. 